Barbara Walters Reveals She Once Had a Lumpectomy

— -- For years, Barbara Walters has told the stories of others a journalist for ABC News.

Today, during a speech at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's annual Symposium & Awards Luncheon, Walters, who was being honored with the Sandra Taub Humanitarian Award for her contributions to women’s health, told a personal tale: A few years ago, she had a lumpectomy.

“As someone who believes in the power of investigation, in the power of discovery and uncovering the truth, I am an advocate for research and education,” she said. “I believe that we all have an obligation and a responsibility to support and fund medical research. Some years back, I discovered a small lump in my breast. Under the expert care of Dr. Larry Norton, I had a lumpectomy. There were other choices possible. This was mine."

Walters -- who recently retired from "The View," but stays active with ABC News and other projects -- said that at the time, she did tell a select group of people about the procedure. Thankfully, she never had to deal with it again, "nor was I worried," she said.

"I knew the advances that had been made in treating breast cancer, including lumpectomies when possible. I can remember when such treatments were not available," she said. "Research made my treatment possible.”